Paul Taylor American Modern Dance performed at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center from October 29 to November 17. The program, called Paul Taylor: Celebrate the Dancemaker, featured the Paul Taylor Dance Company in a tribute to its founder, who died in 2018. The engagement marked PTAMD’s first Lincoln Center Season under Artistic Director Michael Novak.

Highlights included 19 Taylor masterworks, and commissioned works created on PTDC by Mr. Abraham (World Premiere) and Guest Resident Choreographers Ms. Gillis and Ms. Tanowitz (Lincoln Center Premieres). PTDC celebrates the 50^th anniversary of Mr. Taylor’s Private Domain. A revival of Post Meridian created in 1965, which has not been performed since 1989, was also featured.

The Gala performance on October 30 featured Special Guest Artists Misty Copeland, principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, who reprised her role in Mr. Taylor’s Black Tuesday, and Taylor alumnus Michael Trusnovec performed the famed 1959 Variations solo George Balanchine created on Paul Taylor for Episodes. Mr. Trusnovec’s performance of Variations in October 2019 was the first time the solo has been performed in New York City in 15 years. He will also perform the Variations solo as a guest artist at select performances of Episodes during New York City Ballet’s 2020 Winter Season. The program also includes a World Premiere by Mr. Abraham and Mr. Taylor’s final work, Concertiana, which premiered in 2018.

A special one-night-only event co-produced by the American Dance Festival entitled ICONS: Taylor/Katz, on Monday, November 11 at 6:30 p.m., featured the work of Paul Taylor and Alex Katz, painter, with four of their collaborations: Sunset, Scudorama, Private Domain and Diggity.

Through PTAMD’s continued partnership, Orchestra of St. Luke’s performed live on every program. The Orchestra was conducted by Taylor Music Director and Maestro Donald York and Maestro David LaMarche.

The Company’s 2019 Taylor repertoire included Airs (1978), Aureole (1962), Beloved Renegade (2008), Black Tuesday (2001), Brief Encounters (2009), Cloven Kingdom (1976), Company B (1991), Concertiana (2018), Diggity (1978), Dust (1977), Esplanade (1975), Last Look (1985), Piazzolla Caldera (1997), Post Meridian (1965), Private Domain (1969), Scudorama (1963), Sunset (1983), Syzygy (1987) and Troilus and Cressida (reduced) (2006).

Special Memorial Performances honoring Mr. Taylor, on October 29 and, November 5, included four Taylor masterworks: Aureole, Troilus and Cressida (reduced), Last Look and Beloved Renegade. Mr. Taylor’s second Company, Taylor 2, shared the stage with PTDC in Troilus and Cressida (reduced). Memorial Performances were announced earlier in the year and are were offered free to the public.

TaylorNEXT Nights (October 31, November 8 and 16) were evening performances curated by Taylor dancers to introduce patrons ages 21-45 to the Taylor world. On these evenings, TaylorNEXT members had access to the Mr. & Mrs. Walter H. Weil Premium Discount Ticket Program, where premium seats were available at a 70% discount and members were invited to attend backstage tours led by Taylor dancers. Following the November 16 performance, the third annual TaylorNEXT Party was held on the Koch Theater Promenade, where members celebrated Mr. Taylor’ legacy. For information visit taylornext.org.